not forgotten to assure myself a retreat where, in spite of you, I could now go to live the six months which perhaps remain to me of life.  It would be a curious employment for me to watch the progress of such a reign.  What answer would you return, for instance, when all the inferior potentates, regaining their station, no longer kept in subjection by me, shall come in your brother’s name to say to you, as they dared to say to Henri IV on his throne:  ’Divide with us all the hereditary governments and sovereignties, and we shall be content.’—­[Memoires de Sully, 1595.]—­You will doubtless accede to their request; and it is the least you can do for those who will have delivered you from Richelieu.  It will, perhaps, be fortunate, for to govern the Ile-de-France, which they will no doubt allow you as the original domain, your new minister will not require many secretaries.”

While speaking thus, he furiously pushed the huge table, which nearly filled the room, and was laden with papers and numerous portfolios.

Louis was aroused from his apathetic meditation by the excessive audacity of this discourse.  He raised his head, and seemed to have instantly formed one resolution for fear he should adopt another.

“Well, sir,” said he, “my answer is that I will reign alone.”

“Be it so!” replied Richelieu.  “But I ought to give you notice that affairs are at present somewhat complicated.  This is the hour when I generally commence my ordinary avocations.”

“I will act in your place,” said Louis.  “I will open the portfolios and issue my commands.”

“Try, then,” said Richelieu.  “I shall retire; and if anything causes you to hesitate, you can send for me.”

He rang a bell.  In the same instant, and as if they had awaited the signal, four vigorous footmen entered, and carried him and his chair into another apartment, for we have before remarked that he was unable to walk.  While passing through the chambers where the secretaries were at work, he called out in a loud voice: 

“You will receive his Majesty’s commands.”

The King remained alone, strong in his new resolution, and, proud in having once resisted, he became anxious immediately to plunge into political business.  He walked around the immense table, and beheld as many portfolios as they then counted empires, kingdoms, and States in Europe.  He opened one and found it divided into sections equalling in number the subdivisions of the country to which it related.  All was in order, but in alarming order for him, because each note only referred to the very essence of the business it alluded to, and related only to the exact point of its then relations with France.  These laconic notes proved as enigmatic to Louis, as did the letters in cipher which covered the table.  Here all was confusion.  An edict of banishment and expropriation of the Huguenots of La Rochelle was mingled with treaties with Gustavus Adolphus and the Huguenots of the north